Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Fiscal crisis could nix enhancements at Texas Lege

The Austin Statesman reports that Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire has taken a downright heroic stance, announcing he'll stymie criminal penalty increases in his committee to keep the state budget in check:

With the Texas Senate apparently poised to hold up for now on any bills with a new fiscal note, Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire said today that tougher punishments are also on hold.

“It’s simple: Enhancements cost money,” said Whitmire, D-Houston. “No enhancements. We don’t have money for them.”

Dozens of bills have been filed seeking enhancements of criminal penalties, as they are each legislative session. Getting tougher on crime is an easy vote-getter back home.

No word from the House, but if the Senate halts enhancements — as it did several legislative sessions ago, triggering controversy — Whitmire’s sentiment could stop many bills dead in their tracks.

IMO this act was merited without the fiscal crisis, but with the economy tanking and the state budget in the red, the idea makes loads of sense.

Thank you, Sen. Whitmire!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Common sense in the legislature in Austin? Joe (John), say it ain't so!

Anonymous said...

Maybe he read here about the special interests and their enhancements!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Sen. Whitmire! Indeed!

x4livin said...

I really wish Whitmire would run for Governor.

Anonymous said...

Shameful Irony
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 5:04pm.
Talk about shameful

Texas House OKs $750,000 increase in office and staff spending

Texas House OKs $750,000 increase in office and staff spending

12:00 AM CST on Friday, January 16, 2009
By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rtgarrett@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – The House will spend up to $750,000 more on staff and office costs this session despite hard economic times and possible cuts to state services used by millions of Texans.

The Associated PressThe House voted 128-11 to allow each member to spend an extra $1,000 for each of the five months they're in Austin. That follows a $140,000 renovation of the House members' lounge that was finished before lawmakers convened.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/DN-house_16tex.ART.State.Edition1.4eb8995.html

and then followed by the irony

Texas agencies asked to cut $500 million

06:48 AM CST on Tuesday, February 3, 2009
By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News
rtgarrett@dallasnews.com / The Dallas Morning News
Terrence Stutz contributed to this report.

AUSTIN – The Legislature's top two leaders, citing "uncertain economic conditions," have asked state agencies to propose immediate spending cuts.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/DN-budget_03tex.ART.State.Edition1.4c03732.html